I find the king
of hearts I never knew
I was looking for

over the hill
beneath the pines

he’s face down
on the paved trail
not in the road

where that unidentifiable dead
animal has melded
into the pavement

I almost don’t bother
but can’t resist

I pick him up
without knowing
what I have in my hand

without caring
where he’s been
I flip him over

without looking for
the others

don’t need a full deck
I’ll be 52 soon